krisis van die dagbladpers

Abstract

The daily press in several Western Coun- tries is subjected to certain market, psycho- logical and economic inspired changes that threaten its very existence. This study at. tempts to analyse the crisis facing the present daily press, with a more pertinent emphasis on the daily press in South Afri- ca. From a survey of the literature and pilot Interviews, several factors were identified as having a profound influence on the daily press in Western countries. A qualitative questionnaire was constructed to assess the extent to which these factors contribute to the crisis facing the daily press in South Africa. The outcome of this investigation in- dicates that the daily press in South Africa should reconsider their functions, content and sources of income in order to adapt to the fast changing needs of the media mar- ket, the advertiser and the reader.

Information Trends in South Africa with Specific Reference to the Development of an Information Policy for the Electronic Media

“…An information strategy for Southern Africa with respect to its complex and culturally diverse society, can not be gauged without seeing it against the background of certain longterm worldWide trends in information. These trends have been identified by communication practitioners in the Western world and are currently enjoying a lot of attention in academical and philosophical circles, as well as in the industry (Shaw, 1977;Toffler, 1980;Van der Meiden & Fauconnier, 1982;IPRA, 1984;Overton, 1985;Kruger, 1985). They also formed the main theme of discussion during the World Congress of the International Public Relations As-40 sociation in Amsterdam in 1985, which mainly focused on the relationship between media and society.…”

“…This demands unique solutions from the communication practitioner in" devising a communication strategy containing a delicate mix of international, national and regional interests. Big daily newspapers in South Africa are moving in this direction, by"zoning" their areas and running special regional editions, The problem remains whether a big daily paper can really meet the needs of the community paper, and vice versa, also taking into account , the financial costs involved (Kruger, 1985).…”

“…in the number of specialised publications and Whether the programmes of this new television regional papers, which begin to affect the circula-network will satisfy individual and group needs on tion and advertising income of the national daily the long run, remains to be seen. The service is newspapers (Kruger, 1985). The latter in return, try mainly entertainment-oriented, and although it is to ward off these effects by issuing regional edi-growing, it still has to rely heavily on the variable tions, as already pointed out.…”